Amanda Casady, with the American Lung Association in Duluth, is one of Healthy Northland’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership Coordinators. One big part of her job is improving people’s health through tobacco policy change. In other words, preventing our youth from exposure to and access to the harmful effects of tobacco and other chemicals.

Healthy Northland asked her about this work.

HN: What drew you to this work?

AC: I am a person who feels a deep desire to affect change within my community, so doing this work felt like a no-brainer to me. I’ve learned so much about tobacco control since starting this job and feel more and more driven every day.

HN: Before working for SHIP, what’s the most interesting job you’ve had?

AC: I am a certified Birth Doula, which is by far the most exciting and interesting job ever. You really cannot beat the feeling of being present at the birth of a new child while supporting the mother through such a big life experience.

HN: When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?

AC: At 10 years old, my career goals bounced around quite a bit: a school nurse, an OB-Gyn, an artist, or a lawyer. Looking back now, I can see that they all really had a way of tying into what I ultimately have chosen to do.